Stackable Bulk Fluid Container with Atmospheric Pressure Frame
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solutions for the storage and transportation of fluids in the oil and gas industry, such as hydraulic fracturing, are inefficient due to heavy and leak-prone vacuum boxes and low-capacity totes, leading to limited volume transport and increased risk of spillage.
Innovation Solution
A stackable bulk fluid storage container with a frame assembly that supports a fluid storage vessel at atmospheric pressure, allowing for lighter weight and increased capacity, enabling vertical stacking and efficient transportation on various vehicles, and featuring internal baffles to reduce sloshing and a level detection device for fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional vacuum boxes are used for fluid storage and transport, then the container can maintain structural integrity under vacuum pressure, but the container weight increases significantly thereby reducing the volume of fluids that may be transported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from vacuum (negative pressure) to atmospheric pressure (zero gauge pressure). This fundamental parameter change allows the use of lighter gauge materials since the container no longer needs to resist vacuum pressure differential, thereby reducing container weight while maintaining or increasing fluid storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the vacuum maintenance system from the container design. By eliminating the vacuum box structure and vacuum pumping system, the design achieves significant weight reduction while transitioning to an atmospheric pressure storage system that uses lighter materials.
2Reliability
If conventional vacuum boxes with tailgates are used, then the container can be transported and stored, but the tailgate is not 100% sealable resulting in risk of spillage and loss of stored fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tailgate component entirely from the container design. By eliminating the tailgate and associated sealing mechanisms, the design achieves 100% sealability through the main body closure system, eliminating the spillage risk associated with tailgate sealing while maintaining transport and storage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible, sealable closure system that provides complete sealing capability. The design uses a flexible membrane or thin film closure that can achieve 100% seal when closed, replacing the rigid tailgate structure that could not provide complete sealing.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional totes are used for hydraulic fracturing chemicals, then the chemicals can be stored, but the totes are difficult to manage logistically due to their low capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple small tote-capacity containers into a single large-capacity atmospheric pressure container. This consolidation reduces the number of individual containers from multiple totes to one or fewer large containers, significantly improving logistical management efficiency while increasing total storage capacity for hydraulic fracturing chemicals.
4Loss of time
If conventional frac tanks are used at well-sites, then the tanks can store fluids, but significant demurrage time and setup time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-assembling and pre-positioning the atmospheric pressure container on transport vehicles in a ready-to-deploy state. The container is designed to be quickly unloaded and immediately positioned at the well-site without requiring complex setup procedures, thereby eliminating demurrage time and reducing setup time to minimal levels.
Data Source
AI summary
A bulk fluid storage container includes a frame assembly having a lower rectangular frame, first and second wheel assemblies extending from opposite ends of the lower rectangular frame, and an upper rectangular frame member arranged in spaced relation to the lower rectangular frame member by a plurality of vertically extending posts. The bulk fluid storage container also includes a fluid storage vessel having first and second end walls held in spaced relation by first and second side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, which defines a fluid storage volume. A baffle assembly having a plurality of baffle plates is disposed in a space relationship in the fluid storage volume. The frame assembly provides an exoskeletal structure which surrounds the fluid storage vessel and is configured to support a second bulk fluid storage container in a vertically stacked relationship.